5 ways to improve your green-reading skills without relying on a caddie
After an unplanned break from golf, I was excited to get back out to the course this week with my 11-year-old son. It’s a whole new golf world right now, but I’ll take it!
To say we were rusty getting started would be an understatement. The good news is, that I was expecting this and just decided to struggle through it and do my best. I also allowed myself to hit another shot when I wanted. Having low (or no) expectations can work well. My son thinks he is supposed to play like the kids in The Short Game, so he was no so thrilled. So many life lessons happen on the golf course.
As we return to a slightly different version of golf, there are many of us who may have to learn to be more self-sufficient, like managing your course management, choosing your own clubs and … reading greens.
I am fortunate to play with a caddie on occasion, and even though I usually prefer to read my own greens, caddies’ local knowledge can be difficult to beat.
Here’s how to develop a caddie’s eye and become a pro green-reader :
1. Look at the big picture of the green before you get there
When you are approaching a green from a distance, it can be easier to see how the green tilts and if there is an obvious tilt. So pay attention as you approach the putting surface from the fairway.
2. As you walk onto the green look for a high point and a low point
Greens are built to drain rainwater, meaning they have low points to which the water runs. If you can identify those areas, you’ll have a leg-up on your reads.
3. Is your putt uphill or downhill?
One of the most important things you need to determine is the proper power and speed you need to generate to roll the ball the right distance. Our eyes judge distance well, but often miss up- and downhill slopes. I’m a fan of Aimpoint by Mark Sweeney, by which you learn to read the greens using your feet. Walking the putt to feel the slope can help you to determine proper speed and length of backstroke.
Try this: aim to a stop your ball just short of the cup when putting downhill and just beyond the cup when putting uphill.
4. Which side is higher? Look beyond just the line
When trying to determine how the ball will move on a side slope, I find it helpful to look at the general area, rather than just the line. In other words, if you study several feet on one side of the line versus several feet on the other, the tilt of the green becomes more obvious — and, of course, you should always aim for the higher side.
Longer putts may require you to divide the putt into sections and read each section in this same manner.
5. Learn to read green maps
There is so much great tech out there to help you to play your best golf, including the green maps that the Tour players use. There are a few different options, among them the new Green Books by Golflogix (Golf Logix and GOLF.com are affiliates of 8AM Golf).
These custom-printed green books contain detailed 3D imagery and are available for more than 14,000 courses; they also include three views of every hole. Quick view heat maps outline the undulations, and easy-to-see arrows help golfers see where to properly approach the green. The books also offer detailed information to help you read every putt perfectly and avoid three-putting, plus color imagery of every hole with 50-yard grids to help guide you around the course.
Green Book
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